First Asian-American woman elected to Senate, Mazie Hirono

In more good election news, Hawaii is sending the first Asian-American woman to the Senate, Rep. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii. The US has a dismal record of sending women to Congress, though this year was a positive, record change in that direction.

Hirono is also an immigrant. She was 8 years old when her mother – fleeing Hirono’s alcoholic father – moved them to Hawaii. Hirono says she cried for two days on the crossing from Yokohama Harbor. Another first: Hirono is a Buddhist, too.

“I bring quadruple diversity to the Senate,” Hirono said at a rally earlier in the campaign. “I’m a woman. I’ll be the first Asian woman ever to be elected to the U.S. Senate. I am an immigrant. I am a Buddhist. When I said this at one of my gatherings, they said, ‘Yes, but are you gay?’ and I said, ‘Nobody’s perfect.'”

Hirono says her mother and Mink are the two women who have inspired her most in her political career. But getting to this point has not just been about doggedness. A refusal to give up is not enough, she said.

“Women are not given very much credit for our ability to make strategic political decisions,” Hirono said. “That’s one of the things I do. I don’t just think, ‘I’m going to do it because I’m not going to give up.’ It’s hard. It’s always hard.

Chris in Paris
An American in Paris, France. BA in History & Political Science from Ohio State. Provided consulting services to US software startups, launching new business overseas that have both IPO’d and sold to well-known global software companies. Currently launching a new cloud-based startup. Full bio here.